Note on Family-Leguminosae

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This is one of the largest family of dicotyledon which includes about 600 genera and 13000 species.The members are found in all possible habitats of trophics, sub-trophics and temperate regions of the world. Depending on the characters of corolla and androecium, this family is divided into 3 subfamilies;

Papilionoideae (Papilionaceae)

Caesalpinioideae ( Caesalpiniaceae)

Mimosoideae (Mimosaceae)

Family: Papilionaceae (Pea family)

Class: Dicotyledonae

Sub-class: Polypetalae

Series: Calyciflorae

Order: Rosales

Family: Leguminosae

Common name: Papilionaceae

Distribution:

The family includes about 482 genera and 7200 species. The members are cosmopolitan in distribution. Thus, they are found in diverse habitats of trophics, sub-trophics temperate and even sub-alpine regions. Many of the vegetables and pulses plants are included in this family. Thus is considered as the economically important family.

Vegetative character:

Well established branched taproot system inhabited by nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium bacteria forming root nodules to increase the fertility of the soil.

Stem

Aerial, sometimes submerged, erect or creeping or climbing the support with distinct nodes and internodes branched, herbaceous or woody, cylindrical or angular or flattened, solid or fistular, pubescent or glabrous.